The song was written by the Doors' vocalist Jim Morrison and guitarist Robby Krieger, although all of the band are credited on the sleeve notes.

[3] According to Doors drummer John Densmore,[4] he and guitarist Robby Krieger, who had then been roommates, were visited by Jim Morrison who appeared to be "deeply depressed.

[4] Intrigued by the lyrics, Krieger was convinced that the song was a hit upon hearing the vocal melody:[4] [Morrison said] "Yeah, I feel really good about this one.

He looked down at the crumpled paper in his hand and sang the chorus in his haunting blues voice.In a review for AllMusic, critic Tom Maginnis wrote the song "reflects the group's fascination with the theatrical music of European cabaret.

"[8] Cash Box called it a "smashing performance," saying that the "mid-speed setting ... adds kick to the black humor of the lyrical content" and that the "production and work are fantastic.

British group Echo & the Bunnymen recorded a cover version of "People Are Strange" for the soundtrack of the 1987 film The Lost Boys.